Journal of Bioscience and Agriculture Research

RESEARCH ARTICLE: Khasi traditional tree farming practice on pest and disease management in the Northeast uphill of BangladeshNur Mohammad MajumderDept. of Anthropology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh

Title: Khasi traditional tree farming practice on pest and disease management in the Northeast uphill of BangladeshAbstract:Traditional cultivation system is an ecologically based age-old farming system, which is developed by native farmers through generations after generation. It is the resulting of their interaction with nature and natural resources for food, fuel, fodder and fibre. However, it is necessary to investigate how Khasi in northeast uphill take care and protect various tree crops from the nuisance of pest and diseases employing indigenous knowledge. This study also examined what kinds of knowledge, farming inputs with local pesticides, source and scale of materials are used to grow healthy tree crops in the field. To explore these farming issues a qualitative approach – participant observation method with in-depth interviewing techniques were employed to elicit data in the field. Findings illustrated that traditional knowledge as local knowledge of the people has occupied in different topographical areas of the country with their surrounding natural setting specially, local culture, custom, belief, folklore, rites and rituals. This report is an attempt to document some empirical issues of the indigenous practices followed by local farmers for the organizational and managerial strategy of pests and diseases of certain common tree crops grown in traditional fields in general and north east Bangladesh in particular. This study identified various indigenous pest management practices, which have scientific basis of practicing them.Key Words: Khasi, Agricultural farming, Indigenous knowledge, Pest and disease management and Ethnoecological knowledge

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